Missing Cape Town as #Blizzard2016 Hits USA and Flights Cancelled
A South African chef, Bruce Marais – who now lives in the USA – has posted the following videos and photos revealing the extent of the record-breaking Winter Storm Jonas – which some have called Snowzilla – as blizzards and gale-force winds have hit the USA this weekend, causing thousands of flights to be cancelled…including those […]
A South African chef, Bruce Marais – who now lives in the USA – has posted the following videos and photos revealing the extent of the record-breaking Winter Storm Jonas – which some have called Snowzilla – as blizzards and gale-force winds have hit the USA this weekend, causing thousands of flights to be cancelled…including those from South Africa.
He posted the first video of the snow storm a few hours ago, saying: “The current weather situation and it’s only going to get worse. I miss Cape Town…”
The current weather situation and it’s only going to get worse. I miss Cape Town 🙁
Posted by Bruce Marais on Saturday, 23 January 2016
A little while later, Bruce posted another video saying: “Forget the snow, we’re getting flooded!” He added: “No sympathy needed, it’s actually very exciting!!”
Forget the snow, we’re getting flooded! No sympathy needed, it’s actually very exciting!!
Posted by Bruce Marais on Saturday, 23 January 2016
Like tens of millions of people in the southern and eastern states of the USA, Bruce “stocked up properly before the storm” (and has some good red wine to see him through).
His house is on stilts fortunately “but there is a room downstairs on ground level. We took everything out before the flood.”
At least 11 states have been declared emergencies. Hundreds of thousands of houses are without power, and at least 13 fatalities have been reported as a consequence of the weather which resulted in over two feet of snow in Washington DC.
Transport has been suspended, bridges have shut and thousands of flights have been cancelled – including direct South African Airways (SAA) flights to the USA – as the USA experiences what could be one of its worst snowstorms in a century.
It’s been officially named Winter Storm Jonas by the Weather Channel, although it’s also been nicknamed Snowmaggedon2016 or Snowzilla!
SAA released the following advisory today: “South African Airways (SAA) advises all customers that due to the adverse weather conditions as a result of “Winter Storm Jonas“ the following South African Airways flights to and from Washington Dulles International Airport operated via Dakar, Senegal and to and from New York, John F. Kennedy International Airport will be cancelled as follows…”
The advisory then listed the specific flights to and from Washington and New York today and tomorrow, and said “assistance will be provided to all ticketed passengers holding a South African Airway’s Ticket (only) via any SAA Call Centre, City Travel Office or dedicated Travel Agent…”
For the conditions and details, visit:
http://www.flysaa.com/cms/commons/advisoryNotice/travel_advisory.html
Bruce says: “We’re expecting another flood, coming in later…” Vasbyt!
All photos above (except the car covered in snow) by Bruce Marais, thank you.
Watch Video: Tian Tian in the Snow Jan. 23, 2016
Here’s one of today’s most shared videos – uploaded by Smithsonian’s National Zoo – “Male giant panda Tian Tian woke up this morning to a lot of snow, and he was pretty excited about it. Giant pandas have thick woolly coats that keep them warm in the snowy mountains of China. #Blizzard2016”
ON TWITTER
Oh, the beauty. So peaceful and quiet. #snowmageddon2016 #blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/pOrsDviS5N
— Faith Hill (@FaithHill) January 23, 2016
Since early this morning, Times Square Alliance Sanitation & Public Safety teams have been hard @ work.#blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/VKeg3UBmNe
— Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) January 23, 2016
Hello Sunny #NYC #Blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/B4gRAcBIqU
— Hiroko Tabuchi (@HirokoTabuchi) January 23, 2016
We prefer to keep our planes in the air, but #Jonas is pretty stubborn about keeping us on the ground. #Blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/hybO5ZAcoc
— JetBlue Airways (@JetBlue) January 23, 2016
#Blizzard2016 is perfect weather to snowboard down the steps of the NYC Supreme Court House. https://t.co/OKW07yHdnf https://t.co/8z88gZCzBy
— ABC News (@ABC) January 24, 2016